Tobacco settlement funds approved for support of UH medical school

HONOLULU - Governor Linda Lingle signed SB 1283 into law, after originally planning to veto it. SB 1283 allows the use of funds from the Hawaii Tobacco Settlement Special Fund to pay for the John A Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) operating expenses in addition to paying debt service for the new Kakaako facility over the next four years.

"We are grateful to Governor Lingle for her willingness to listen to our concerns about the importance of this measure to JABSOM‘s success and sustainability," said Dr. Gary K. Ostrander, Interim Dean of the Medical School.

"We appreciate the state legislators‘ and governors‘ long-term vision in recognizing JABSOM‘s significant role in the state economy as well as its contribution to the health and well being of the people of Hawaii. We are honored that Governor Lingle upheld this vision today by signing this important bill (SB 1283) into law."